Fantasy author David Eddings, who died earlier this year, has bequeathed approximately $10 million dollars to National Jewish Health, nearly one third of Eddings’s estate. The remaining portion of the estate will go to Reed College. The portion for NJH will be used to pioneer new approaches in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood asthma. Eddings’s wife, Leigh, who died last year, suffered from asthma for most of her life.

The WexWorlds Science Fiction and Fantasy Festival is scheduled to take place in Wexford, Ireland from November 20-22. The event, founded by author Eoin Colfer, who will be attending, is supported by Failte Ireland, Wexford Borough, Wexford Council, Wexford Library, Wexford Chamber, and other businesses and hotels. The festival is free and open to the public with a minimal €5 fee for certain workshops.

Jerry Weist, the author of Bradbury: An Illustrated Life and The Art of Frank R. Paul has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. The diagnosis was made early and he has begun chemotherapy as part of an experimental program. In 1974, Weist founded The Million Year Picnic comic book shop.

Author Frederik Pohl has received an honorary degree from Brooklyn Technical High School on August 19. Pohl attended the school for three years, but left before graduating due to his grades and problems stemming from his parents’ divorce. Brooklyn Tech alum recently discovered Pohl’s tie to the school through the dedication to Pohl and Arthur C. Clarke’s novel The Last Theorem and set into motion the school’s decision to grant Pohl his diploma.

Publisher Donald M. Grant (b.1927) died on August 19. Grant began publishing with Grant-Hadley Enterprises in 1945 and founded a series of small press publishers, culminating in Donald M. Grant, Publisher, Inc. in 1964. In addition to publishing editions of Stephen King’s Dark Tower novels, DMG also published L. Sprague de Camp’s autobiography.

The city of Baltimore will be holding a funeral for Edgar Allan Poe beginning on October 7, 2009. The Poe house will be open for viewing from noon to 11pm. At midnight on October 8, a vigil will begin at the Poe Monument at Westminster Graveyard, lasting until 7am. A funeral procession and two services will be held on October 11. Poe’s eulogy will be given by editor Ellen Datlow.

Author Gene van Troyer (b.1950) died on July 18. Van Troyer not only wrote his own science fiction, but also worked to translate Japanese science fiction into English. His poetry appeared in numerous science fiction magazines and he was one-time editor of Star*Line. He first visited Japan as an exchange student in 1974 and has been living in Japan for the last several years.

WSFS has announced the finalists for their annual small press award. Short stories published in small press publications are eligible. The winner will be announced at Capclave the weekend of October 16 in Rockville, Maryland.

Actor Edwin Reimers (b.1912) died on August 16. Reimers appeared in the Star Trek episode “The Troble with Tribbles” as Admiral Fitzpatrick and also had a guest role on The Munsters. He was also the announcer for a vareity of television shows and was the spokesman for Allstate Insurance for 22 years.

Comic artist Frank Borth III (b.1918) died on August 9. Borth did much of his work during the Golden Age of Comics, beginning with “Ken Stuart” in the late 1940s. He created the character Spider Widow and also wrote the strip “There Oughta Be a Law,” illustrated by Warren Whipple. He also did some work for Cracked. Much of his work was on the Catholic-oriented Treasure Chest.